## It is a system, not a single institution

PLA is not one course or one provider. It is a framework within which DGERT-certified training
entities deliver Portuguese courses at various levels. Complete an A2-level PLA course with a
certified provider and you receive a certificate documenting your proficiency.

## What the course involves

**Hours.** An A2 PLA course typically comprises 150 to 200 hours of instruction, which aligns with
the general guidance for reaching A2.

**Schedule.** How long that takes depends on the format:

- Intensive, 20 or more hours a week: roughly 8 to 10 weeks.
- Standard, 10 to 15 hours a week: roughly 12 to 20 weeks.
- Part-time, 5 to 8 hours a week: roughly 20 to 40 weeks.

**Attendance.** Most courses require a minimum attendance rate, typically 80% to 90% of scheduled
hours. That is both a DGERT requirement and a practical one: you cannot reach A2 without doing the
hours.

**Content.** A well-structured A2 course covers the four skills against the A2 descriptors:
everyday vocabulary, basic grammar, practical situations, and enough reading, writing, listening
and speaking to function in ordinary life.

## What the certificate should say

Check that it clearly states the level achieved (A2), the course hours completed, and the DGERT
certification number of the issuing entity. A certificate missing any of those invites questions
you do not want on a citizenship file.

## Before you enrol

Verify the provider's DGERT certification. It is public information, available through DGERT's
official website, and any legitimate provider will hand you their number and encourage you to
check it. Evasiveness about DGERT status is a red flag worth acting on.

Subsidised courses exist and can be free or very low cost for eligible residents. Private courses
range from a few hundred euros upward.